Ah, a weekend filled with fun and friendly weather WEST COLUMBIA

NEIGHBORS

June 02, 1993|By LARRY STURGILL

Except for a few showers on Monday afternoon, the Memorial Day weekend couldn't have been more pleasant.

The bright sunshine and comfortable temperatures that blessed most of the holiday weekend, combined with a wide variety of area activities, lured many people into the great outdoors to play and party. Pathways in the parks were filled with walkers, joggers, skaters and bicyclists, the lakes and streams lined with fishermen, the pavilions and picnic tables packed, and the open areas dotted with colorful blankets and a myriad of sun worshipers.

Sports are traditionally a big part of the Memorial Day holiday. For parents who have children active in various sports, there were lots of tournaments to ensure it would also be a busy weekend.

The dominant sporting event was the 18th annual Columbia Invitational Soccer Tournament, with more than 225 teams from all over the United States and Canada participating.

Games were held at several Columbia middle and high schools, Howard Community College and the youth services field at Fort Meade.

Oddly, this year's finals were held at the Fort Meade parade grounds, outside of Columbia and Howard County. This was the result of higher, and many felt unreasonable, fees imposed by Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks for the use of Centennial Park and other facilities.

There were also the state high school baseball championships played in Frederick. Two county teams, Centennial and Glenelg, made it into the final round Saturday.

Glenelg defeated Rockville to become the state Class 2A champs, and I would like to add my personal congratulations to the team from my alma mater (Class of '61).

Centennial played well, but eventually lost a close game to Class 3A champions Lansdowne.

County teams also did well in the state track and field championship tournament held at Western Maryland College. The Oakland Mills boys and the Glenelg girls track teams won state Class 2A championships.

And, there were numerous youth baseball tournaments held throughout the county, including the 10th annual Howard County Youth Program (HCYP) Memorial Day Invitational held at Wallas Park.

*

A number of West Columbia middle school students received recognition for outstanding achievement in math and verbal skills in the 14th annual talent search conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

Ashley Eden, Michael Kayser, Christopher Matheson and Gregory Scott, all of Harper's Choice Middle School, were among the top regional winners in math ability.

Among the top regional performers in combined math and verbal ability were Stephan Feddor of Wilde Lake Middle School and Matthew Shapiro of Harper's Choice Middle School.

*

Be sure to mark Sunday, June 6, on your calendar and attend an evening of sacred music offered by the Wilde Lake Interfaith Choir, backed by a 22-piece orchestra.

Featured will be Joseph Haydn's "Mass in D Minor," also known as the Nelson Mass. Selections from Bach, Beethoven and Mozart will also be presented.

The concert will be held at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twinn Rivers Road, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted.

For additional information, call 730-7920.

*

Cedar Lane School still needs volunteers, 13 and older, to work at its special education summer school from June 21 to July 30. The hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Programs will include therapeutic swimming, functional academics, physical education, arts and crafts and music. An orientation session for all volunteers is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, June 18.